Adaptive technologies for vetiver grass propagation and transplantation and related methods of repurposing vetiver grass

ABSTRACT

Technologies and techniques that reduce cost and time for propagation, transplantation and harvesting of Vetiver Grass for multiple applications. Tools, equipment, systems and processes to propagate, transplant and harvest Vetiver Grass that will promote the rapid implementation of sustainable, large-scale Vetiver plantations in wealthy and impoverished countries alike.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Chrysopogon Zizanioides is a non-invasive clump grass native to southernIndia and can be found in most countries around the world. It is alsoknown as Sunshine Grass and, more commonly, as Vetiver Grass.

When fully grown, Vetiver Grass has a root system that grows mostly in adownward direction for several meters, which has significant structuralproperties. This makes Vetiver Grass useful as a biological erosioncontrol solution, protecting soils from wind, water and other dynamicerosive agents. Moreover, its dense above-ground clumps create a hedgebarrier that prohibits runoff sediment from entering watersheds andriparian areas. Still further, roots and leaves of Vetiver Grass exhibita phytoremediation property whereby the Vetiver Grass absorbssignificant amounts of nitrates, phosphates, heavy metals and othercontaminates out of water and soils. Vetiver Grass has even been shownto reduce biological contaminates such as e-coli. Because of its manybeneficial properties, Vetiver Grass, therefore, has been used worldwideas a biological environmental solution for erosion and contaminationmitigation and remediation.

A further advantage of Vetiver Grass is its high cellulosic content,which includes a significant percentage of fermentable sugars. VetiverGrass also has a high xylan content, when extracted and processed,becomes Xylitol which is a natural sugar substitute for diabetics.

With its decades-long lifespan and rapid regeneration cycles, VetiverGrass may be an ideal biomass for energy production. Its ability toinhibit parasite growth in livestock has been established, but onlyutilized in the early growth stages of the plant, prior to thedevelopment of thick, sharp ridges on the leaf making it difficult forlivestock to consume.

Unfortunately, Vetiver Grass is non-invasive and does not propagate byseeds. Therefore, Vetiver Grass is cultivated by manually harvesting anddissecting existing plants into single or multiple stems known as“slips” or “shoots.” The stems are cut out between the roots and theleaf then typically planted by hand. These manual processes aresometimes augmented by simple tools such as a shovel and a machete,common hand tools, or even a farm tractor. However, the manual processof harvesting and preparing Vetiver stems for transplantation is timeconsuming and labor intensive. Likewise, the process of manually ormechanically assisted planting is time consuming and labor intensive.

Vetiver Grass for use as a biological solution for such things aserosion control and water contamination mitigation and remediation hasbeen limited to impoverished countries where the indigenous low cost oflabor for the manual propagation and transplantation of Vetiver Grass isconducive to implementation. Specifically, lack of funding, expertiseand resources in impoverished countries inhibit utilization of modern,more expensive, institutional-level mechanical and chemical mitigationand remediation techniques, such as water treatment facilities andmechanical erosion control structures, as typically found inwell-developed industrialized nations. On the other hand, adequatefunding, skills and other resources in well-developed, industrializednations like the United States has driven environmental solutions towardmore expensive, institutional-level, mechanical and chemical mitigationand remediation techniques. Also, unlike impoverished nations, moreindustrialized countries have a tendency toward technology and away fromthe high cost of manual labor, and there has been little incentive forthose countries to develop efficient utilizations of biologicalenvironmental solutions like Vetiver Grass.

What are needed in the industry are systems and methods that reduce orrecoup the long term investment costs of planting, cultivating andharvesting Vetiver Grass.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

According to the present disclosure, the inventors have discovered thatVetiver Grass—as a non-invasive, non-food crop and a sustainable andrenewable feed stock—can generate large-scale, end-use economies fromenergy-based (biomass) and commercially-derived applications (xylan,essential oils, and the like) and from its many proven agricultural(e.g., anti-parasitic medicament for livestock) and environmentalmitigation/remediation applications (e.g., erosion control andphyto-remediation).

The present disclosure is directed in general to new technologies andtechniques that reduce cost and time for propagation, transplantationand harvesting of Vetiver Grass for multiple applications. The inventorshave discovered specially designed tools, equipment, systems andprocesses to propagate, transplant and harvest Vetiver Grass that willpromote the rapid implementation of sustainable, large-scale Vetiverplantations in wealthy and impoverished countries alike.

In the detailed description that follows various terms and acronyms areused, including the following:

Vetiver clump or mother plant material from which slips or tillers aresplit to yield material for immediate planting or for propagating intopolybags.

The crown (corm) is the base (the hard part of the plant between theshoots and the roots) of a mature vetiver plant from which new shootssprout.

A culm is the stem or stalk of a grass. The vetiver culm is solid,stiff, and hard; it has prominent nodes with lateral buds that can formroots and shoots when exposed to moist conditions.

Vetiver tillers or slips are sections of separated clump consisting ofat least three or four well developed leaves.

Pandharinath More tractor drawn semi-automatic onion planter unit. Usedto create planting furrows for fertilizer applications and for plantingof vetiver slips or tillers.

Unit assembly generally having a wheeled frame with furrow openers, afertilizer box and conveying tubes, trays for holding slips or tillers,chutes to deliver the slips or tillers, and multiple seating for aplanting team.

The foregoing definitions are not intended to limit the scope of thepresent disclosure, but rather are intended to clarify terms that arewell understood by persons having ordinary skill in the art. It shouldbe appreciated that the defined terms may also have other meanings tosuch persons having ordinary skill in the art. These and other terms areused in the detailed description below.

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a method forimplementing an ecologically sustainable, economically practical Vetiverplantation for multiple applications of Vetiver crops may includeselecting a geographic area based on one of mitigation need, estimatedcrop yield, and multiple applications based on estimated crop yield;efficient transplantation of Vetiver grass to the geographic area toyield a Vetiver grass crop; providing a first benefit from a firstapplication of mitigating water run-off or soil erosion with the Vetivergrass; and harvesting portions of the Vetiver Grass crop to provide asecond benefit selected from the second application group consisting ofan animal medicament, a consumable, a biofuel and combinations thereof.According to this method, tops of Vetiver Grass are trimmed and/or rootsof Vetiver Grass are trimmed. Further, stalks of Vetiver Grass may beseparated into shoots. The stalks or the shoots may be placed intocontainers for shipping or into segmented pallets for planting. Themethod may include automatically cutting stems from between roots andleaves of the Vetiver Grass.

Shoots may be mechanically planted, and the method may include formingholes in soil for the shoots, and the holes may be formed from a punch,a wheel, and/or an auger. The soil may be automatically compressedaround each shoot, and each may be automatically fertilized.

In another embodiment, a method for efficiently implementing,sustaining, and propagating Vetiver grass plantations for multipleapplications may include selecting a planting area based onpredetermined criteria; transplanting Vetiver shoots to the plantingarea to yield a Vetiver grass crop; providing a primary application ofthe Vetiver grass crop; and providing a secondary application of theVetiver grass crop subsidized by the primary application. The selectioncriteria may include mitigation needs, water purification needs,estimated crop yields, and potential multiple applications based on theestimated crop yields. The primary application may be mitigating waterrun-off, water purification, and/or prevention of soil erosion. Thesecondary application may be an animal medicament, a consumable, and/ora biofuel.

In yet another aspect of the disclosure, an ecologically sustainable,economically practical, cold tolerant Vetiver grass plant may beprovided that has been genetically modified to be cold tolerant for usein colder climates, such as the northern states of the United States.

Additional objects and advantages of the present subject matter are setforth in, or will be apparent to, those of ordinary skill in the artfrom the description herein. Also, it should be further appreciated thatmodifications and variations to the specifically illustrated,referenced, and discussed features, processes, and elements hereof maybe practiced in various embodiments and uses of the disclosure withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the subject matter. Variationsmay include, but are not limited to, substitution of equivalent means,features, or steps for those illustrated, referenced, or discussed, andthe functional, operational, or positional reversal of various parts,features, steps, or the like. Those of ordinary skill in the art willbetter appreciate the features and aspects of the various embodiments,and others, upon review of the remainder of the specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A full and enabling disclosure of the present subject matter, includingthe best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, isset forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appendedfigures, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagram of showing an exemplary Vetiver Grass plantation andmultiple applications and end-use economies according to an aspect ofthe disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of a Vetiver Grass process cycle depictinglarge-scale Vetiver Grass processes according to an aspect of thedisclosure;

FIG. 3 is a continuation of the flow chart as in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a Vetiver Grass harvester in accordance with afurther aspect of the disclosure; and

FIG. 5 is an elevational view the Vetiver Grass harvester as in FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

In general, the present disclosure is directed to systems and methods topromote and enable widespread use and applications of Vetiver Grassranging from erosion mitigation to medicinal uses. Because Vetiver Grassis non-invasive and does not propagate by seeds, the present disclosurecultivates, harvests, and dissects existing plants into single ormultiple stems known as “slips” or “shoots” using inventive automatedmethods and machinery. For instance, the stems are automatically cutfrom between roots and leaves of the grass, and planted by machineryfaster, on a larger scale and at less cost than manual labor in richcountries, particularly when the leveraged, multi-use benefits are takeninto account. Therefore, richer nations will be enticed to use thepresently disclosed methods and devices for biologically friendlyVetiver Grass and to forego the expensive artificial techniques oftenused for soil erosion prevention and run-off mitigation and remediation.

In the description that follows, the multiple-use, multiple-benefitapplications of Vetiver Grass have been unexpectedly discovered and aredescribed in detail. For instance, an application that providesresources and justification to incur the relatively high initialinvestment in planting Vetiver Grass is leveraged to provide additionalapplications of the Vetiver Grass that offer recurring environmentalbenefits and/or economic benefits that would have been otherwiseimpractical to obtain. For example, a relatively large Vetiver Grassfield can be planted primarily for waste water mitigation on a farmaccording to an aspect of the disclosure. The Vetiver Grass plantationis sufficiently large that it can be harvested to provide biomass forenergy or medicaments for livestock herds, which a smaller, hand-plantedVetiver Grass crop in an isolated region cannot provide.

Detailed reference will now be made to the drawings in which examplesembodying the present subject matter are shown. The detailed descriptionuses numerical and letter designations to refer to features of thedrawings. The drawings and detailed description provide a full andwritten description of the present subject matter, and of the manner andprocess of making and using various exemplary embodiments, so as toenable one skilled in the pertinent art to make and use them, as well asthe best mode of carrying out the exemplary embodiments. However, theexamples set forth in the drawings and detailed descriptions areprovided by way of explanation only and are not meant as limitations ofthe disclosure. The present subject matter thus includes anymodifications and variations of the following examples as come withinthe scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Turning to FIG. 1, an automated, large scale Vetiver Grass productionsystem is indicated in general by the number 10. In this example,extensive rows of Vetiver Grass are labeled by element number 12 and arestrategically planted between a pig farm 14 and its holding or wastepond 16 and a stream, river, or riparian area 18 and/or lake or otherwater source 20. Typically, a farmer will take waste water from the pond16 to fertilize nearby crop fields. When it rains, however, the pond 16may overflow. Without protection or some form of mitigation, runoff fromthe crop fields that have been fertilized with waste from the pond 16may contaminate the waterways 18 and lakes 20. Here, however, theVetiver Grass 12 acts as a barrier to inhibit runoff sediment fromentering the bodies of water 18, 20. Moreover, the roots and leaves ofthe Vetiver Grass 12 act as filters of any run-off to absorb nitrates,phosphates, heavy metals and other contaminates from water and soil. TheVetiver Grass 12 can also reduce biological contaminates such as e-coli.

As shown in FIG. 1, according to the mass planting made possible by thepresent disclosure, the farmer can financially justify the plantation ofmultiple rows of the Vetiver Grass 12 as indicated by step 100 accordingto the automation and equipment of the disclosure. Thus, the farmer,employing a first application of the Vetiver Grass 12 crop, achieves afirst, primary, or initial benefit in the form of environmentalremediation from polluted runoff. Moreover, the farmer can harvestportions of the Vetiver Grass foliage 12 in step 200 using the inventiveharvesting equipment 22 according to the disclosure, as described inadditional detail below.

FIG. 1 further shows that the farmer may use or sell the harvested crop24 as biomass for energy 26 in step 300. Additionally, or alternatively,the foliage 24 may be harvested for processing and use in medicinalapplications according to step 400. For instance, the processed VetiverGrass foliage 12 may be converted or used as an additive, mixture, orcompound in medicines 28. Still further, the farmer may harvest thefoliage 24 prior to development of thick, sharp leaf ridges and depositthe foliage 24, or harvest it at any time during its lifecycle and putit in a hammer mill 30 in step 500 where the processed Vetiver Grassfoliage 12 can be fed to livestock 32. This new “harvest at any time”use of Vetiver Grass foliage 12 as a medicament to reduce parasites isan improvement over traditional, early stage use. In step 600,fermentables, essential oils, xylan and the like may also be extractedfrom the processed Vetiver Grass 12 to produce, for instance, sweetenersfor foodstuffs or other consumables 34. The disclosure is not limited tothese exemplary applications.

With reference now to FIG. 2, a user, such as a farmer, an agriculturalbusiness, a non-governmental entity (NGO), or a government agency likethe United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), will identify acandidate geographic area in step 110. The assessed area may haveerosion control needs or conditions but lack sufficient funding,expertise and resources to provide water treatment facilities and/ormitigation means. On the other hand, even an area in a relativelywealthy area or an industrialized nation with resources to employinstitutional-level, mechanical and chemical mitigation techniques maybe urged by public policy to employ environmental solutions describedherein. If an area does not need large scale Vetiver Grass crops in step112, attention can be turned to another candidate area for assessment.

As shown in FIG. 2, if an area is identified with an appropriate need oris simply a good candidate for a biological solution for erosioncontrol, water contamination mitigation, and other uses for large-scaleVetiver Grass crops, a crop may be planted according to step 114.Because Vetiver Grass does not propagate by seeds, harvesting anddissecting plants into single or multiple stems is accomplishedaccording to processes and methodologies designed herein to properly andefficiently extract and prepare Vetiver plants for propagation,including but not limited to: segregation and pruning of stems (slips orshoots,) proper packaging, storage and transportation of stems;mechanical automation or semi-automation of planting stems at properdistances, depths, and compaction; and post-planting maintenance systemsand processes. Additionally, the Vetiver Grass may be geneticallymodified to be cold-tolerant according to another aspect of thedisclosure, and the genetically modified Vetiver Grass can be grown innorthern climates, if that is the area identified in step 110. Accordingto the present disclosure, specifically adapted, mechanized fieldharvesting equipment is provided to cut out stems between the roots andthe leaf, plant and provide post-harvest storage, transportation andmechanical or chemical processing of the Vetiver Grass for its variousnon-propagation applications.

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the Vetiver Grass crop may becultivated in step 118 and/or propagated and/or harvested (steps 116,120) according to various aspects of the disclosure. More specifically,in step 120 the plants may be uprooted and their roots trimmed by theprocesses disclosed herein in step 122. Additionally, or alternatively,plant tops may be cut at desired trim-length and the foliage harvestedfor use or disposal in step 124. Step 128 particularly shows that if aspecific application is desired (e.g., animal feedstock, animalmedicament, consumable use), various processes can occur. For instance,if intended for transplantation and propagation, the stalks can beseparated into shoots in step 130. The stalks or shoots can also beplaced into holding containers such as a plastic bag (with moisturetherein) for shipping or into segmented pallets for use in the automatedplanting device of the disclosure as indicated in step 132. In step 134,the automated plantation devices will create holes in soil via adirectional “punch”, although a loose or more relaxed hole orindentation may be formed from a wheel, auger or the like. If thereceiving soil has been plowed or scarified, the row may be“pre-compacted” before the “punch”. The shoot is then planted, possiblyto include initial fertilization based on soil type and conditions, andthe holes are compressed around the plants.

FIG. 3 further shows that, depending on the application chosen in step128, special baling techniques may be employed in step 136.Specifically, the method of cutting or mulching, the type of baler, thedesired size, process, compaction, and handling of the grass crop beforeit reaches the baler will be determined. For instance, a specific hammermill process may be selected in step 136 before preparinganti-parasitical medicine for livestock from the Vetiver Grass.

Turning now to FIGS. 4 and 5, a harvester or harvesting machine 222 isshown for harvesting and baling of Vetiver crops 212 for a biomasssource. The harvester 222 is used in a 3-stage process as follows:

-   -   1. harvesting & baling of the vetiver biomass 212;    -   2. harvesting the crown of the vetiver plant, which includes a        portion of the stem and root system, into bare root slips and        processing the vetiver plant into slips or tillers;    -   3. mechanically planting the processed vetiver slips or tillers        using a semiautomatic or automatic planter attached to a tractor        or ones that are self-propelled.

More particularly, FIGS. 4 and 5 show: Stage One (Vetiver biomassharvesting process) wherein crops are harvested for a biomass source bymechanical mowing (cutting down) & baling the leaf-stalk portion of thevetiver plant (clump) leaving approximately 3 inches behind. Thisprocess is carried out using baling equipment capable of simultaneouslyprocessing the vetiver crop and the subsequent baling process in roundor square bales of varying mass. The baled matter is then transported toeither ethanol or zylan processing plants. The mower unit will behydraulically driven and can be detachable.

Stage Two (Vetiver slip or tillers harvesting process) systematicallyand in one continuous mechanical or hydraulic process, trimming andevenly mowing the remaining or leftover vetiver plant by cropping thefoliage top, removing and uprooting the vetiver clump from the soil at adepth of 6 to 8 inches and transferring it via a moving chain conveyorinto a detachable and portable holding bin or hopper for separation intoindividual slips-tillers and stacking into planting trays. The cuttingunit uprooting the slips or tillers will connect to an eccentric whichwill move the cutting blade in either a sideways or a forward motion.The cutting head drive will be interlinked to the chain conveyor driveand controlled hydraulically. Various ride height adjusters will beinstalled to compensate for uneven ground as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

Finally, in Stage Three (Vetiver mechanical planting process) plantingvetiver slips or tillers from planting trays is achieved using amodified mechanical onion-type planter attached to a tractor inventedfor this unique process. The prepared vetiver slips or tillers areplaced into trays and fitted to either a semi-automatic or an automaticmodified “Pandharinath More”-type onion planter machine. The planter isused for large scale planting operations for biomass crops in eitherfertile or marginal type soils.

Without limiting the scope of the present disclosure, potential specificembodiments of the present subject matter in a utility patentapplication may include:

-   1. A method for implementing an ecologically sustainable,    economically practical Vetiver plantation for multiple applications    of Vetiver crops, the method comprising:

selecting a geographic area based on one of mitigation need, estimatedcrop yield, and multiple applications based on estimated crop yield;

efficient transplantation of Vetiver grass to the geographic area toyield a Vetiver grass crop;

providing a first benefit from a first application of mitigating waterrun-off or soil erosion with the Vetiver grass; and

harvesting portions of the Vetiver grass crop to provide a secondbenefit selected from the second application group consisting of ananimal medicament, a consumable, a biofuel and combinations thereof.

-   2. The method as in claim 1, wherein tops of Vetiver grass are    trimmed.-   3. The method as in claim 1, wherein roots of Vetiver grass are    trimmed.-   4. The method as in claim 1, wherein stalks of Vetiver grass are    separated into shoots.-   5. The method as in claim 4, wherein the stalks or the shoots are    placed into containers for shipping or into segmented pallets for    planting.-   6. The method as in claim 4, further comprising forming holes in    soil for the shoots.-   7. The method as in claim 6, wherein the holes are formed from a    punch, a wheel, an auger and combinations thereof.-   8. The method as in claim 1, further comprising automatically    cutting stems from between roots and leaves of the Vetiver grass.-   9. The method as in claim 1, further comprising mechanically    planting shoots.-   10. The method as in claim 9, further comprising automatically    compressing soil around the shoot.-   11. The method as in claim 9, further comprising automatically    fertilizing the shoot.-   12. A method for efficiently implementing, sustaining, and    propagating Vetiver grass plantations for multiple applications, the    method comprising:

selecting a planting area based on predetermined criteria;

transplanting Vetiver shoots to the planting area to yield a Vetivergrass crop;

providing a primary application of the Vetiver grass crop; and

providing a secondary application of the Vetiver grass crop subsidizedby the primary application.

-   13. The method as in claim 12, wherein the criteria are selected    from the group consisting of mitigation need, water purification    need, estimated crop yield, and potential multiple applications    based on the estimated crop yield.-   14. The method as in claim 12, wherein the primary application is    one of mitigating water run-off, water purification, or prevention    of soil erosion.-   15. The method as in claim 12, wherein the secondary application is    selected from the group consisting of an animal medicament, a    consumable, a biofuel and combinations thereof-   16. An ecologically sustainable, economically practical, cold    tolerant Vetiver grass plant substantially as described and    illustrated in the specification herein.

While the present subject matter has been described in detail withrespect to specific embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated thatthose skilled in the art, upon attaining an understanding of theforegoing may readily produce alterations to, variations of, andequivalents to such embodiments. Accordingly, the scope of the presentdisclosure is by way of example rather than by way of limitation, andthe subject disclosure does not preclude inclusion of suchmodifications, variations and/or additions to the present subject matteras would be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art.

1. A method for implementing an ecologically sustainable, economicallypractical Vetiver plantation for multiple applications of Vetiver crops,the method comprising: selecting a geographic area based on one ofmitigation need, estimated crop yield, and multiple applications basedon estimated crop yield; efficient transplantation of Vetiver grass tothe geographic area to yield a Vetiver grass crop; providing a firstbenefit from a first application of mitigating water run-off or soilerosion with the Vetiver grass; and harvesting portions of the Vetivergrass crop to provide a second benefit selected from the secondapplication group consisting of an animal medicament, a consumable, abiofuel and combinations thereof.
 2. The method as in claim 1, whereintops of Vetiver grass are trimmed.
 3. The method as in claim 1, whereinroots of Vetiver grass are trimmed.
 4. The method as in claim 1, whereinstalks of Vetiver grass are separated into shoots.
 5. The method as inclaim 4, wherein the stalks or the shoots are placed into containers forshipping or into segmented pallets for planting.
 6. The method as inclaim 4, further comprising forming holes in soil for the shoots.
 7. Themethod as in claim 6, wherein the holes are formed from a punch, awheel, an auger and combinations thereof.
 8. The method as in claim 1,further comprising automatically cutting stems from between roots andleaves of the Vetiver grass.
 9. The method as in claim 1, furthercomprising mechanically planting shoots.
 10. The method as in claim 9,further comprising automatically compressing soil around the shoot. 11.The method as in claim 9, further comprising automatically fertilizingthe shoot.
 12. A method for efficiently implementing, sustaining, andpropagating Vetiver grass plantations for multiple applications, themethod comprising: selecting a planting area based on predeterminedcriteria; transplanting Vetiver shoots to the planting area to yield aVetiver grass crop; providing a primary application of the Vetiver grasscrop; and providing a secondary application of the Vetiver grass cropsubsidized by the primary application.
 13. The method as in claim 12,wherein the criteria are selected from the group consisting ofmitigation need, water purification need, estimated crop yield, andpotential multiple applications based on the estimated crop yield. 14.The method as in claim 12, wherein the primary application is one ofmitigating water runoff, water purification, or prevention of soilerosion.
 15. The method as in claim 12, wherein the secondaryapplication is selected from the group consisting of an animalmedicament, a consumable, a biofuel and combinations thereof.
 16. Anecologically sustainable, economically practical, cold tolerant Vetivergrass plant substantially as described and illustrated in thespecification herein.